Window-shade adjuster



Sept. 23 1924.

, 1,509,460 v J. L. ZELLER wINDdw SHADE ADJUSTER Filed Nov. 4, 1922 Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. ZELLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WINDOW-SHADE ADJUSTER.

Application filed November 4, 1922.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. ZELLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have in vented new and useful Improvements in -Window-Shade Adjusters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to window shades and the like and has for its principal object the provision of means whereby even rolling of the shade may be assured at all times, and whereby a shade unevenly secured to a roller so that it tends to roll to one side, may be adjusted to roll evenly.

Another object of the invention is the conservation of shade material by providing means whereby wear and abrasion of the edges of the shade is reduced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of adjustment means for shades which may be easily manipulated, and which does not require that the shade roller be removed from its hangings to make an adj ustment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above character which will add to the ornamental appearance of a shade and roller assembly, rather than detracting from its appearance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of device of the above character which will act to more securely hold the shade to its roller and tend to prevent it being torn therefrom, and which device is not liable to be jerked from the shade roller.

Still other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

I have illustrated by the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, and it is conceived that numerous other embodiments will suggest themselves to the minds of those skilled in the art, and therefore, I do not limit myself to any specific construction or arrangement of parts, except within the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1, is a view in front elevation of a window shade roller with a shade attached thereto, showing my improved device attached.

Figure 2, is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3, is a view in section seen on a line 3--8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Serial No. 599,079.

Figure 1, is a view in section seen on line 4+4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5, is an enlarged detail view in front elevation of one end of the shade roller shown in Fig. 1; showing the application of the device for the purposes of adj ustment.

More specifically, 6 indicates a usual shade roller to which is secured a shade 7 The shade roller is provided with the usual pintles 8 and 9, whereby it is revolubly sup ported in brackets (not shown). Over each end of the shade roller there is fitted an expansible tubular element 10 formed with a single transverse slot 11 through which the shade material extends. The element is preferably made from a single blank of metal rolled until the edges bordering the slot are practically in contact. A slightly rounded edge 12 is formed at the outer end so that the element 10 can not be pushed inwardly on the shade roller.

The blank is formed with arcuate edges 13 at one end so that a lead'is provided for the shade as the device is being placed over the end of the roller. The elements 10 are placed on the shade roller when only one convolution of shade material is wound on the roller. Thus the major portions of the elements 10 are inapparent when the shade is in any other than full drawn down position.

Each element is formed with a slightly raised portion 14: on the inner end, diametrically opposite the slot; for a purpose apparent hereinafter. This raised portion provides a slightly inwardly tapering cavity 15.

Intermediate of the elements 10 and slidably disposed over the shade material I provide an adjuster 16. The adjuster is preferably formed from a single blank of sufliciently springy metal, and also acts advantageously as a clamp for that portion of the shade with which it is in contact. It includes a transverse portion 17 from which extends opposed fingers 18 and 19, so that the required clamp effect is provided; the fingers extending around the roller for about 270 degrees of a circle.

Each of the fingers is provided with a sharp edge 2]., and an inclined surface 22 rising from each edge.

It will be apparent now that if one of the adjuster is forced into the cavity provided on one of the tubular elements, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, said tubular element will be expanded to increased circumference; it being capable of returning to original circumference when allowed to do so, or when the edges of the adjuster is attracted from the cavity.

Inthe application and operation of the embodiment shown, the parts are disposed on the shade roller as previously described and substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen that the tubular elements and the adjuster, by virtue of their expansible nature, will serve to clamp the shade to the roller and tend to prevent its being torn from tacks or other fastenings (not shown) by which it is primarily at tached to the roller.

Should the shade have been inaccurately attached to the roller so that it tends to roll to one side; or should it have been partially torn from its fastenings so that it tends 'to roll uneven, the shade may be adjusted creased diameter, which upon being disposed to one side of the center acts to compensate for the former uneven rolling.

If rolling of the shade to one side is pronounced, then the adjuster may be moved over until an end thereof has entered cavity 15 and increased the effective circumference of the roller very appreciably. The edge of the adjuster is shown just in the act of expanding a tubular element to increased diameter, in Fig. 5.

In applying my device to a shade roller, all parts are arranged so that the cavities 15 in the tubular element are in alignment with each other and with adjacent ends ofthe adjuster. Thus the depending edge of the shade is disposed immediately under portion 17 of the adjuster, and the tubular elements thereby prevent the possibility of the adjuster being forced off the roller by sudden jerking of the shade.

It will be seen now that by properly positioning the adjuster as required, usual conditions of uneven rolling may be compensated for, and by use of my improved device not only can a shade be kept from uneven rolling, but the device will also act to more securely hold the shade on its roller; thus acting to increase the life and service of the shade.

I claim:

1. In combination with a window shade roller, an expansible tubular element at each end of the roller having a slot through which the shade material depends, and means co-acting with said elements whereby the efi'ective diameter of either element may be increased.

2. In combination with a window shade and its roller, a clamp slidable on said roller; said clamp formed with an inclined edge at each end whereby movement of the clamp to either side of the center of the roller will act to compensate for uneven rolling of the shade on its roller.

3. In combination with a window shade and its roller, a clamp slidable on said roller; said clamp formed with an inclined. edge at each end whereby movement of the clamp to either side of the center of the roller will act to compensate for uneven rolling of the shade on its roller, and means for clamping the ends of said shade to its roller; said means providing a gauge whereby the clamp may be properly located with regard to the perpendicular to preclude its being jerked from the roller.

JOHN L. ZELLER. 

